County officials gathered at the Seneca Park Zoo Thursday to celebrate the opening of the new Animals of the Savanna exhibit.
It features 20 species of animals, a new building and a new tram to take zoo guests back and forth from the exhibit.
Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo says the expansion is more than just that.
"It's about conservation, it's about learning, it's about just having a grand old time and a lot of fun here at the zoo," she said.
Dinolfo says visitors to the zoo will be able to feed the giraffes in the exhibit starting next spring.
Animals of the Savanna took 15 months to complete, and included a $13.5 million dollar investment that supported 200 jobs and 25 local small businesses.
She says the next phase of the zoo expansion plan includes taking down the antiquated main building at the entrance of the zoo.
"We'll be taking that building down shortly, and after that we'll have a brand new exhibit that will go there that will be robust, and innovative. Another piece of the zoo that we can be proud of and share with the community," she said.
The new exhibits and amenities are part of the overall ten-year, $60 million dollar Seneca Park Zoo Master Plan Expansion Project.